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Chris Gibson and five other newly elected lawmakers from New York are in Washington, D.C. this week to get a crash course in Congress, complete with lectures on setting up Capitol Hill offices, navigating ethics rules and hiring staff.

The more than 80 new House representatives elected on Nov. 2 have been in town since Sunday for a week-long immersion in the way Congress works. After all, before the new members can craft policy, write legislation or deliver their first speech on the House floor, they first have to find it.

Gibson, R-N.Y., defeated Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy in the Nov. 2 elections to represent New York’s 20th congressional district. In an interview Wednesday, he described the week-long introduction to Washington as a whirlwind of transition meetings, briefings and social engagements.

Rep.-elect Chris Gibson, R-N.Y., and his wife Mary Jo Gibson are in Washington, D.C., this week for a crash-course in Congress. (AP Photo)

While some wide-eyed freshman representatives are still soaking in memory-making moments — their inaugural walk into the House chamber, their first look at the soaring ceilings in the historic Library of Congress — Gibson has adopted a methodical, determined approach.

“I’m encouraged by what I’m hearing” from fellow freshmen, said Gibson, a retired colonel. “Individuals have come here for the right reasons — to be part of something, we hope, to get the country back on track, to get the economy going, to restore fiscal responsibility and to protect freedoms.”

Gibson is also pragmatic about the challenges facing his Republican party. Although Republicans won more than 60 Democratic seats in the House and will take charge of the chamber in January they are up against President Barack Obama’s White House and a Democratically controlled Senate.

“We’re going to have to be patient as we go forward,” Gibson said. “On the one hand, the House should be reflective of the will of the American people, but on the other hand, this is going to have to be worked through a process. We recognize we are going to be working with a Senate that is of a different philosophical approach.”

The freshman House members’ week in Washington began Sunday, with dinner hosted by the current House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Republican set to take that post next year, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. On Monday morning, they awoke to a crush of lectures on how to steer clear of ethical violations, hire staff and set up a congressional office. In between, lawmakers and spouses pondered the benefits of moving to the Washington area — or sleeping in their congressional offices, which Gibson is leaning toward — and whether to rent or buy.

The flood of information is a lot for anyone to swallow — Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., two years ago compared it to trying to drink out of a fire hose — but especially for incoming lawmakers with no experience in public office. Like Gibson, nearly half of this year’s freshman class — the largest in more than six decades — have never served in public office before.

Gibson’s agenda also has included time with Murphy and his staff. The two met with their top aides on Tuesday to go over constituent casework and plan the handover of files to smooth the transition between lawmakers.

Gibson praised Murphy as “very professional” and called the meeting “productive.”

“His transitional briefing to me was informative, it was gracious, and it was certainly very helpful,” Gibson said. “The people of our district can be very proud of this transition that’s going on. It benefits the constituents of NY-20.”

On Friday, Gibson and the other newly elected House members will take part in a lottery to select their offices. Until then, they are wedged into cubicles in a House office building’s basement.

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Jennifer A. Dlouhy covers energy policy, politics and other issues for The Houston Chronicle and other Hearst Newspapers from Washington, D.C. Previously, she reported on legal affairs for Congressional Quarterly. She also has worked at The Beaumont Enterprise, The San Antonio Express-News and other newspapers. Jennifer enjoys cooking, gardening and hiking. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and toddler son.

About Capitol Confidential

Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.